Bears adamant: Install FieldTurf, scrap sod

BOURBONNAIS — If Bears players had any say in the surface on which they competed, the “grass” at Soldier Field would have already been dug up and replaced with FieldTurf.

The 10,000 fans who purchased tickets for Friday night's Family Fest at Soldier Field were understandably upset when the practice was canceled. Unsafe playing conditions arose when dangerous seams occurred between rolls of recently laid sod, the result of a lack of water.

“It was a joke,” said Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher. “I don't understand how they can't have the field ready. It (stinks) for the fans because I'm sure it was a pain in the butt to get down there with all the (Lollapalooza) traffic and everything. But I think coach (Lovie Smith) did the right thing not letting us practice on that stuff. We ended up getting a late practice in (Friday) night (at Olivet Nazarene University), but it's just too bad that it had to be that way.”

The installation of FieldTurf would eliminate situations like the one that existed Friday night and also the deplorable condition of the field that occurs near the end of every season.

“I don't understand why we don't have FieldTurf yet,” Urlacher said. “We're a fast team. We play fast on FieldTurf. The injury issues aren't as bad as they used to be. They've gone down a lot in the last few years with the way they've made the turf, so I don't understand it. (We should) use our speed because we know we can run. Let us get out there and run.”

Wide receiver-return specialist Devin Hester doesn't appear to have much trouble outrunning opponents on any surface, but he prefers the artificial stuff.

“There are no pot holes, no dips in the ground and things like that,” Hester said. “When you're coming out of breaks (on an artificial surface) it's a nice, tight grip. Coming out of your breaks is easier and you don't have to worry about slipping. It's more consistent.”

Just as a golfer prefers to hit a shot from the fairway rather than the rough, so does a kicker prefer booting the ball off a consistent surface, as opposed to the tundra-like grass at Soldier Field late in the season.

Asked his preference, Bears kicker Robbie Gould said: “FieldTurf absolutely. “Obviously the conditions here in Chicago are pretty rough, whether it's a miscalculation of water and heat or the snow in December. Our surface isn't the best surface to play on.”

The Bears are scheduled to open their preseason Saturday at Soldier Field, and coach Lovie Smith is confident the field will not be an issue.

“We're going to show up down there in about a week to play the Bills, and I'm sure the turf will be in great shape,” Smith said, “and the guys won't be able to tell if it's natural or artificial.”

At least not until they set foot on it, or looked at it.

Smith said he regretted that fans missed an opportunity to see the team practice on what was an ideal evening — weather wise.

“We feel terrible about having to cancel,” he said. “But the field was not in the condition that I could allow the team to go out and practice.”